Noorvik, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Noorvik
Nuurvik
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The Friends' Church in Noorvik
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| Nickname(s):
The Place to Move To
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Location in Northwest Arctic Borough and the state of Alaska.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Northwest Arctic |
| Incorporated | March 11, 1964 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.26 sq mi (3.28 km2) |
| • Land | 0.84 sq mi (2.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0.43 sq mi (1.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 694 |
| • Density | 828.16/sq mi (319.65/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code |
99763
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| Area code | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-55140 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1413646 |
Noorvik is a small city in Alaska, a state in the United States. Its name, Nuurvik, comes from the Iñupiaq people and means "A place to move to." Most people living here are Iñupiat.
Noorvik is located in the Northwest Arctic Borough. It has strong connections with Kotzebue, the largest city nearby. People in Noorvik often speak a special kind of Iñupiaq language. In 2020, about 694 people lived in Noorvik.
Contents
Where is Noorvik?
Noorvik is found in a northern part of Alaska. It sits on the right bank of the Nazuruk Channel, which is part of the Kobuk River. This location is about 76 kilometers (47 miles) east of Kotzebue.
The city covers a total area of about 3.28 square kilometers (1.26 square miles). Most of this area is land, but some is water.
How Many People Live Here?
Noorvik first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1920. It officially became a city in 1964.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 281 | — | |
| 1930 | 198 | −29.5% | |
| 1940 | 211 | 6.6% | |
| 1950 | 248 | 17.5% | |
| 1960 | 384 | 54.8% | |
| 1970 | 462 | 20.3% | |
| 1980 | 492 | 6.5% | |
| 1990 | 531 | 7.9% | |
| 2000 | 634 | 19.4% | |
| 2010 | 668 | 5.4% | |
| 2020 | 694 | 3.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 634 people living in Noorvik. Most of the people were Native American (90.06%). Many households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 4 to 5 people.
The median age of people in Noorvik was 21 years old. This means half the population was younger than 21, and half was older. Many young people live in Noorvik.
A Look Back in Time
The name Noorvik means "a place that is moved to" in the Inupiaq language. The village was started in the early 1900s by Iñupiat fishermen and hunters. They came from a place called Deering. Other people moved here from Oksik, a few miles up the river.
Before that, the area was home to the Kuuŋmuit Inuit people. Their settlements mostly disappeared by the early 1900s due to hunger and a flu sickness. However, the current village tribal group honors the Kuuŋmuit Inuit. Their logo even uses a map of the Kuuŋmuit's old territory.
Learning in Noorvik
Students in Noorvik attend the Aqqaluk Noorvik School. This school is part of the Northwest Arctic Borough School District. In 2017, the school had 12 teachers and 186 students. Most of the students were Alaska Natives or Native Americans.
Getting Around
Noorvik has its own airport, which helps people travel to and from the city. It is called the Robert (Bob) Curtis Memorial Airport, or simply Noorvik Airport. It is located about 1 mile southeast of the city.
See also
In Spanish: Noorvik para niños
